Arvo Pärt: Tractus Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra & Tõnu Kaljuste

• Arvo Pärt (b. 1935): Littlemore Tractus:
• 1 Pärt: Littlemore Tractus 07:29
• Greater Antiphons:
• 2 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: I. O Wisdom 01:18
• 3 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: II. O Adonai 02:35
• 4 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: III. O Root of Jesse 00:52
• 5 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: IV. O Key of David 01:45
• 6 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: V. O Morning Star 01:59
• 7 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: VI. O King of all People 01:31
• 8 Pärt: Greater Antiphons: VII. O Emmanuel 03:02
• Cantique des degrés:
• 9 Pärt: Cantique des degrés 09:26
• Sequentia:
• 10 Pärt: Sequentia 03:58
• L'abbé Agathon:
• 11 Pärt: L'abbé Agathon 13:55
• These Words…:
• 12 Pärt: These Words… 12:32
• Veni creator:
• 13 Pärt: Veni creator 02:57
• Vater unser:
• 14 Pärt: Vater unser 03:43
• Total Runtime 01:07:02

Info for Arvo Pärt: Tractus

Tractus emphasizes Arvo Pärt compositions that blend the timbres of choir and string orchestra. New versions predominate, with focused performances from the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under Tõnu Kaljuste’s direction that invite alert and concentrated listening. From the opening composition Littlemore Tractus, which takes as its starting point consoling reflections from a sermon by John Henry Newman, the idea of change, transfiguration and renewal resonates, setting a tone for a recording whose character is one of summing up, looking inward, and reconciling with the past. Compositions included are Littlemore Tractus, Greater Antiphons, Cantique des degrés, Sequentia, L’abbé Agathon, These Words… and Veni creator. An evocative reworking of Vater unser for choir, strings and piano concludes this album. Recorded in Tallinn last year and produced by Manfred Eicher, Tractus extends the line of definitive Arvo Pärt albums begun on ECM New Series with the epochal Tabula rasa in 1984.

Tõnu Kaljuste, a long-time ally of Pärt, points out that much recent discussion with the composer has revolved around new approaches to the scores. Commenting on the wide-reaching and evocative repertoire brought together here, Wolfgang Sandner remarks in the albums liner note, “sound and silence, music and word always remain in dialogue in Arvo Pärt’s work. But the vocal and the instrumental too, the secular and the profane, complement each other. Liturgical ritual and spiritual concert are in exchange and form a context that points to a common origin.”

The compositions included on Tractus are based upon or inspired by scriptural, liturgical or other Christian texts. “The text is independent of us,” Pärt once said. “It awaits us. Everyone needs his own time to come to it. The encounter occurs when the text is no longer treated as literature or artwork but as reference point or model.”

Recorded in Tallinn’s Methodist Church last year, Tractus extends the line of Arvo Pärt albums begun with Tabula rasa in 1984, the recording which initially brought Pärt’s music to widespread awareness. The collaboration between Arvo Pärt and producer Manfred Eicher has persisted now for forty years: “Our work together making new records is always a celebration,” Pärt has said. “It is something very lively and in continuous formation.”

Music and word: In Arvo Pärt’s work, they are manifestly at its core, even when no word is heard, no text has been set to music, but the power of language becomes the subject nonetheless. (Wolfgang Sandner)

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Arvo Pärt: Tractus